Finding Joy

It's funny how the smallest things are what bring the most joy. I've written about it before and probably will again. A package arrived from my parents yesterday and it brought joy, but not for the reasons you would think.
The package had a few items for Mr. K and I-ornaments I used to hang on my parents' Christmas tree; a new  Tinker Bell  ornament; my kitchen rooster (it is Portuguese tradition to have a rooster in your kitchen. Apparently it brings good luck); a singing Snowman that goes in the bathroom and harasses your guests while they are doing their business Etc. I loved every single gift, including the small Christmas house that plays music that Santa, elves and a train move to, but the funny thing is that the towels wrapped around everything made me the happiest.
Towels are a great gift. I mean, everyone could always use more bath towels, but it wasn't their functionality that made me happy. When I pulled the towels out of the box, careful not to drop any of the breakable items wrapped in them, I caught a familiar scent. I pressed the towel up to my nose and breathed in deeply. Not all of the gifts in the world could top the aroma of your childhood home. Sounds a bit silly, but breathing in the fire smoke that helps heat my parents' house made me a bit giddy. There is not another house that smells like my parents' home; at least, not one that I've found. Being on a completely different continent and being apart from my family for the Holidays for the first time, smelling those towels made me feel so much better. It's so funny because now I don't want to use them or wash them because they will lose that smell.
It's not easy being so far from home during the Holidays, but the smallest-or smelliest-of gestures brings so much happiness.

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On a somewhat unrelated note, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be making an announcement soon about an event I, and other members of the blogging community, will be hosting in order to, hopefully, bring joy to someone else's life. I will definitely be needing help in order to make the event a success. This particular person is a truly impressive individual and I hope that we will be able to assist her. She gives herself so fully to others and I hope that we can give back to her in the name of thanks for what she does. It should be a really fun event. So, stay tuned for details. :)